How can I index a MATLAB array returned by a function without first assigning it to a local variable?

Question

For example, if I want to read the middle value from magic(5), I can do so like this:

M = magic(5);
value = M(3,3);

to get

Answer 1

unfortunately syntax like magic(5)(3,3) is not supported by matlab. you need to use temporary intermediate variables. you can free up the memory after use, e.g.

tmp = magic(3);
myVar = tmp(3,3);
clear tmp